My Freedom is Fatal (Pilot)

ALL'S NOT LOST: MY FREEDOM IS FATAL (PILOT)

Written by Caitlin Costello

Caitlincostello316@gmail.com (213) 393-8303 Registered with WGAW

EXT. DREAM WORLD - DYSTOPIAN TOWN - NIGHT OCTOBER “TOBIE” OWENS, 16, is desperately trying to disappear. She walks down an empty cobblestone street, fighting against every instinct telling her to run.

A DARK FIGURE is trailing her. He’s a man, but we can’t tell much else. He walks slowly, following from afar.

The only light comes from the OIL LAMPS lining the street. As the Dark Figure approaches, the oil lamps burn out. One by one.

Tobie rounds the corner and finds an incredibly narrow, dark alleyway. A makeshift sign reads: DO NOT ENTER. This could be her escape route. Tobie reaches her hand past the sign. The brick wall BURNS her HAND. She CRIES out in pain but quickly muffles it.

Tobie has no choice. She has to walk through the busy TOWN SQUARE. Dressed in a NAVY HOODIE and RIPPED JEANS, Tobie sticks out in a crowd of TOWNSPEOPLE wearing VICTORIAN GARB - Corsets, tunics, suits etc. Tobie sidesteps carriages and large men smoking pipes. She gets lost in the crowd and loses the Dark Figure. For now.

Everything is old fashioned except for her. People are starting to stare. She passes a STAND selling newspapers by something called: “SK8 Media” The headlines read“MANHUNT FOR ESCAPED PRISONER CONTINUES” Old news. His picture has been in the paper for weeks.

“JOHNNY DEPP IS SINGLE AGAIN!” Interesting, but not enough to risk getting caught.

“OCTOBER OWENS DISAPPEARS.” Under the headline is a picture of herself. Tobie gets in line. She takes the paper and walks away quickly, head down.

2.

EXT. TOBIE’S DREAM - BACK ALLEY - MOMENTS LATER Tobie crouches behind a dumpster. We watch a TALL SHADOW move behind her. Tobie doesn’t notice. She reads the first paragraphShe’s coming. She’s coming. She’s coming. That’s all it says.

Tobie feels eyes on her. She looks up and sees the ESCAPED PRISONER from the other newspaper. He towers over her.

PRISONER Don’t read that. It’s all propaganda.

The Prisoner BODY SLAMS Tobie and STRANGLES HER. PRISONER (CONT'D) Fucking corrupt media.

TOBIE (Sputtering) I...didn’t..dream...you.

Out of nowhere, the sweet, innocent voice of a: No. I did.

LITTLE GIRL (O.S.)

Tobie is strangled to death, thenINT. WAKING WORLD - CALIFORNIA - TOBIE’S ROOM - MORNING SHE WAKES UP. Tobie’s alarm BLARES: 6 AM. INT. KITCHEN - MORNING - MINUTES LATER Tobie’s dad, DAVID OWENS, late 40s, a tattooed army-type, makes breakfast. He’s cheery the way only a dad can be at 6 AM, but beneath his smile is an undercurrent of rage. It looks like a breakfast you’d make for a five year old you hate. One small scrambled egg, a half piece of toast, a single burnt sausage and a huge Ketchup smiley face.

DAVID Morning sleepyhead.

TOBIE Our flight doesn’t leave till four.

3.

DAVID We need to go into town, drop the boxes off, drop the keys off, there’s a lot to do. So eat.

INT. CAR - MOVING - CALIFORNIA David drives as Tobie presses buttons on her ancient FLIP PHONE. DAVID Who are you texting?

Mia.

TOBIE

Tobie shows him the phone to prove it.

DAVID Can’t see a damn thing on that screen.

TOBIE (Very, very gently) Another reason you should let me have a real phone. You can put parental controls on it. And block TV shows and Instagram and anything you want.

David takes a deeep breath. He’s a good dad. Or at least that’s what he tells himself. He’s not going to strangle her again, mostly because he’s driving but also because he’s a good dad! He changes the subject.

DAVID This will be good for us. Moving forward. You can make new friends.

Tobie’s back on her phone. The lock screen is a picture of Tobie and MIA RODRIGUEZ, 16. A TEXT pops up- From Mia. MIA (TEXT) Pinky misses u already :( Attached is a picture of a worn PINK BUNNY STUFFED ANIMAL. The picture triggers Tobie’s memory ofFLASHBACK

4.

INT. YOUNG MIA'S ROOM - MORNING YOUNG MIA, 8, Tobie’s best friend and YOUNG TOBIE, 8, are having a sleepover. Mia is CRYING. She’s just woken up from a bad dream. She clutches PINKY, the PINK BUNNY STUFFED ANIMAL. We hear muffled sounds of YELLING. Mia’s parents are fighting O.S. Young Tobie soothes her friend.

YOUNG TOBIE Did you have the monster dream?

Mia cries and shakes her head.

YOUNG MIA A different one. A bad guy. A really bad one.

YOUNG TOBIE You have to turn them good, Mia. Like I do.

YOUNG MIA I tried! Only you can do it. It’s not fair.

YOUNG TOBIE Maybe I could do it for you.

Mia sniffles and looks up at Tobie- hopeful.

END FLASHBACK INT. AIRPORT - SECURITY - DAY Tobie and David approach the desk of a TSA Agent. Tobie hands over her DOCUMENTS. Hi dear.

TSA AGENT

Tobie stares blankly.

TSA AGENT (CONT'D) What is your date of birth?

Tobie keeps staring.

Honey?

TSA AGENT (CONT'D)

5.

TOBIE I..I don’t remember.

David looks at Tobie like ‘what the fuck?’

DAVID January 8th, 2008.

TOBIE (To David) I’m sorry.

The TSA Agent gives them the OK. David grabs Tobie by the arm and pulls her through security. Tobie is mentally checked out. She watches a BABY SLEEPING in his mother’s arms. David yanks her away. Tobie doesn’t take her eyes off the baby.

FLASHBACK INT. YOUNG MIA’S ROOM - 8 YEARS AGO - CONTINUOUS YOUNG TOBIE When we dream, where are we?

In bed.

YOUNG MIA

YOUNG TOBIE We’re in Dream World. (then) What if Dream World is really real?

YOUNG MIA You’re silly Tobie.

Young Tobie smiles- she knows something we don’t.

YOUNG TOBIE I’m not I’m serious! If Dream World is for real, I could find you there. I could fight the bad guy away and then you could have happy dreams. And be happy. Like me.

We hear a door SLAM. Mia’s parents still fighting O.S. YOUNG MIA I want to be happy.

YOUNG TOBIE So what are you scared of?

END FLASHBACK

6.

INT. AIRPLANE - PRESENT DAY TAKEOFF. Tobie watches the BABY, now awake, SCREAM and CRY. She watches another WOMAN, terrified of flying, take deep breaths.

YOUNG TOBIE (V.O.) What’s your worst nightmare?

MIA’S MEMORY INT. YOUNG MIA'S ROOM - 8 YEARS AGO - NIGHT YOUNG MIA lays in bed. A NOISE, Mia’s eyes dart to the corner of her room.

YOUNG MIA (V.O.) The Black Eye Guy. A HOMELESS MAN with TWO BLACK EYES is slumped in the corner.

He looks up at Mia. MIA’S MEMORY - FLASHBACK INT. YOUNG MIA’S ROOM - DAY Young Tobie and Young Mia later that same morning. Tobie grabs a piece of PAPER and hands Mia some CRAYONS. Draw him.

YOUNG TOBIE

Mia draws a STICK FIGURE with two big black circles for eyes.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) You have to think about him when you go to sleep tonight. I know it’s scary. But you have to dream.

If I find him then I can find you.

YOUNG MIA And you’ll make him go away?

Promise.

YOUNG TOBIE

INT. YOUNG TOBIE'S ROOM - 8 YEARS AGO - NIGHT Young Tobie locks her bedroom door. She places Mia’s BLACK EYE GUY DRAWING in her sketchbook and writes FIND MIA.

7.

She lays in bed and closes her eyes.

INT. DREAM WORLD - YOUNG TOBIE’S ROOM Young Tobie startles. Her eyes open.

We hear CLANGING sounds from downstairs. It stops. Then, the sound of HEAVY FOOTSTEPS approaching. Young Tobie snatches the BLACK EYE GUY DRAWING, opens a window and JUMPS. EXT. MILITARY BASE - CALIFORNIA - CONTINUOUS Young Tobie lands on a patch of dirt. The sky is a violent purple-gray hue. THUNDER roars. It starts to RAIN. HARD. We hear a TRAIN WHISTLE through the storm. A gorgeous, allblack STEAM LOCAMOTIVE is speeding down a track in the distance.

Young Tobie RUNS towards the train.

August!

YOUNG TOBIE

AUGUST, 40s, waves from the train. August is the conductor of the Delta Train, named after the Delta stage of sleep. The inbetween state between consciousness and REM (Dream state).

August is haunted by a burden that only Tobie understandshis awareness of Dream World.

August cannot experience dreams the way we can, but he can’t control them like Tobie can. So he rides the train between the Waking World and Dream World, always stuck somewhere in between. Out of place and most of the time, alone.

August gives tObie his hand and she jumps onto the train.

AUGUST I was starting to think you wouldn’t come!

YOUNG TOBIE I never stop dreaming.

August gives Young Tobie his COAT. She is waterlogged.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) We need to talk.

Young Tobie looks around. The train is empty.

8.

Not here.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D)

INT. DELTA TRAIN - QUIESCENT CARRIAGE - CONTINUOUS Young Tobie pulls the carriage door open. The velvet chairs aren’t empty in here- they’re full of SLEEPING PASSENGERS. Young Tobie and August sit in the only empty booth.

YOUNG TOBIE Everyone’s asleep?

AUGUST Everyone except for us. As always.

Young Tobie pulls out the Black Eye Guy DRAWING and slides it across the table.

YOUNG TOBIE (Off his look) Mia’s not a good drawer. Sorry. I’m looking for a bad guy with two black eyes. Have you seen him?

Why?

AUGUST

YOUNG TOBIE I’m going to break Mia’s dream.

AUGUST Are you mad? (off her confusion) Mad means crazy. In England.

YOUNG TOBIE Yes. I am crazy. So are you. Duh. AUGUST We’re mistakes. No one is supposed to be like this. Breaking her dream, making her aware of this world could be catastrophic.

YOUNG TOBIE Mia is a scared little girl.

And she’s my only friend. The bad dreams are making her sad. She doesn’t like to play anymore. She cries a lot. (beat, manipulating) Your wife cries a lot. Wouldn’t you want her to be happy?

9.

He would.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) Maybe if she understood you she would be happy.

AUGUST But she never will. October, you’re a scared little girl. I know...I’m not going to convince you, am I? Tobie shakes her head.

AUGUST (CONT'D) I haven’t seen your Black Eye Guy. There was a child on the last train who got off at the End. The End?

YOUNG TOBIE

August nods.

EXT. THE END - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT August slides open the door of the Delta Train, STILL MOVING, August grabs Young Tobie by the shoulders. He SHOUTS to be heard over the wind.

AUGUST You can’t let anyone else see you!

Only her, and the figments of her imagination. Do you understand?!

Young Tobie nods.

AUGUST (CONT'D) Don’t get caught!

August SHOVES Young Tobie off the train. She rolls into the mud. The train speeds away. Her foot hits something hard. A ROCK. No- a FLAT HEADSTONE. She looks up. A sign reads: WHERE DREAMS COME TO DIE YOUNG TOBIE That’s dramatic.

We realize Young Tobie is standing in a GRAVEYARD full of FLAT HEADSTONES.

10.

She reads the headstones. They say things like: Going to Venice, Seeing Nana one last time, Marrying Sarah, random things like that.

Young Tobie notices something PINK on the steps of a MAUSOLEUM. It’s PINKY, Mia’s PINK BUNNY. YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) (Proudly) I did it.

Young Tobie RUNS towards the Mausoleum. She turns the handle and- it’s locked. Fuck. She SLAMS against the door and CRIES OUT in pain. She takes a step back and focuses her eyes on the door.

CLICK! The door unlocks and CREEEAK open.

Young Tobie bolts inside. The door CLOSES behind her The Mausoleum is MUCH LARGER than it looks from the outside.

Some mausoleums hold bodies, this one holds ARTWORK. Ornate picture frames hold the PAINTINGS by a young child.

In a magnificent golden frame- a stick figure drawing of two little girls titled: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER Young Tobie looks closer. The girls are labeled MIA and SASHA. Sasha. Not Tobie. She frowns. CRACK! Pieces of stone fall from under the frame. The picture TUMBLES to the ground.

Glass shatters everywhere. Young Tobie smiles.

As Young Tobie walks farther, the drawings become disturbing.

Scribbly pictures of crying princesses, bloody swords, and the Black Eye Guy. We hear a distant WHIMPER. Young Tobie follows the sound. The paintings on the wall becomes more and more grotesque. Young Tobie runs faster and faster until she findsA scared little girl in a tattered pink nightgown. Mia. YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) Told you. It worked!

Tobie sees him. The Black Eye Guy. Tobie approaches, slowly.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) You’re dreaming, Mia.

11.

The Black Eye Guy crawls towards Young Mia. Young Tobie pats her pants pocket. She pulls out a knife.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) He’s not real, he can’t hurt you.

Young Mia watches the Black Eye Guy, still terrified.

Suddenly! He LUNGES AND- Tobie slams his head against the wall and puts the KNIFE to his throat.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) Close your eyes, Mia. No!

YOUNG MIA

YOUNG TOBIE I told you I’d make him go away!

Even if it’s just a dream, Young Mia’s not ready to participate in a murder.

YOUNG MIA His eyes. Maybe we can make them better and he’ll be nice.

Young Tobie pulls her knife back.

Will you?

YOUNG TOBIE

Black Eye Guy nods fervently.

Fine.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D)

Young Tobie puts the knife away- for now. She helps Young Mia stand and wipes her tears away.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) Shhh. Just a dream. Everything’s gonna be okay.

YOUNG MIA I’m dreaming?

YOUNG TOBIE I’ll prove it.

Young Tobie opens her palm and a PINK FLOWER blooms there.

CRASH! More rubble falls. The girls run through the maze of debris. The Black Eye Guy crawls desperately towards them.

12.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) I thought I was your best friend.

You are.

YOUNG MIA

YOUNG TOBIE Then why is there a giant picture of you and Sasha?

YOUNG MIA Sasha is my best friend too.

YOUNG TOBIE You can only have one best friend.

SMASH! A chandelier falls. The girls round the corner and find- a DOOR! EXT. RIVER BANK - THE END - DREAM WORLD Young Tobie opens the door opens to a muddy river bank. She guides Young Mia to the edge of the water.

YOUNG TOBIE This is a dream. That doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Young Tobie holds her hand above the river. A ROW BOAT lifts up out of the depths.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) I’m like a god here.

YOUNG MIA Where are we going?

YOUNG TOBIE Somewhere happy.

The Black Eye Guy, who has been crawling after them this whole time, grasps Young Tobie’s ankle.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) (disgusted) Get up.

Black Eye Guy stumbles as he stands. Young Tobie takes mud from the ground and covers his bruised eyes in it.

YOUNG TOBIE (CONT'D) Now wash it off.

13.

He staggers towards the black water and sinks beneath the surface. He bursts from the water, clean. The bruises are gone. Young Tobie has healed him.

Young Mia, content, climbs into the row boat and sits towards the front. Young Tobie sits in the back. An INVISIBLE FORCE pulls the boat down the river.

YOUNG MIA I can’t see anything.

A golden yellow light flickers in the distance. One by one, LANTERNS of all different colors illuminate the river banks.

Young Mia is enraptured. She doesn’t notice the gasping and splashing sounds coming from the Black Eye Guy. YOUNG MIA (CONT'D) I’m not scared anymore.

Tobie looks back and watches Black Eye Guy DROWN. She smiles.

INT. AIRPLANE - PRESENT DAY - WAKING WORLD Passengers deplane. The Baby who was screaming during takeoff is asleep now. A MAN accidentally hits Tobie with his BACKPACK and doesn’t say sorry.

Tobie hates this world. She is powerless here.

INT. NEW APARTMENT - BROOKLYN - EVENING A first floor triplex apartment. Tobie and David are unpacking: Tobie, ART SUPPLIES, David, GUNS. Tobie looks pale, sick, exhausted.

DAVID Did you pack my new revolver? It’s not here.

TOBIE (Snippy) I don’t remember.

David wants to strangle her so badly. He lets her go.

INT. APARTMENT - TOBIE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS Tobie walks into a room with a blow up mattress and falls asleep.

14.

INT. BROOKLYN APARTMENT - BEDROOM - LATER Tobie is awake. She looks MUCH HEALTHIER. She enters the living room where she sees: INT. BROKLYN APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS Her dad, asleep, slumped in a chair. She approaches and finds a PIZZA BOX. Tobie picks up BEER BOTTLES. This is a familiar routine. She notices a a small SCRAP OF PAPER. It reads: TobieWelcome to your worst nightmare!

What the...? A RED DROPLET falls on the note. She moves David’s head and finds a GUNSHOT WOUND on his temple.

He’s not sleeping. He’s dead.

EXT. BROOKLYN APARTMENT - NIGHT Sirens. Cops. Yellow tape. Neighbors look on from the safety of their stoops.

Tobie sits in the back of an ambulance. SHIELA, 30s, a case worker, approaches Tobie.

SHEILA My name is Sheila. I'm with Child Protective Services. I need to ask you a few questions. You’re sixteen, correct?

Tobie doesn’t answer, she’s watching the police and the lights and everything. In shock.

SHEILA (CONT'D) I’m sorry about your uncleTOBIE My dad. Is he dead?

SHEILA But it’s eleven o’clock and I skipped a Bachelorette watch party for this. So are you sixteen yes or no?

Yes.

TOBIE

15.

SHEILA And your full name is October Jane Owens?

Sheila laughs at the name.

Yes.

TOBIE

SHEILA And who do you live with?

Tobie starts to crack.

TOBIE (emotional) My Dad. SHIELA Where’s your mom?

TOBIE She died when I was five. It’s just my Dad. SHIELA (doesn’t care) Oh sorry.

Tobie notices a BODY BAG being moved. Her dad.

TOBIE I’m awake, right?

Um- yes.

SHEILA

Tobie PUKES. She drops her flip phone and it cracks. Sheila recoils in disgust.

I/E - MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - WEST VILLAGE, MANHATTAN - NIGHT A stunning penthouse with a view of the skyline. CEO's and HIGH FLYER-TYPES pop champagne. Food, drinks, live jazz.

ALLISON MATTHEWS (mid 40s) and REGINALD MATTHEWS (late 50s) are throwing a FABULOUS PARTY. Allison lurks in the corner and looks on quietly.

REGINALD Fireworks are starting. Come watch.

16.

ALLISON I’d rather not lose my hearing, but you have fun babe.

Partygoers move to the balcony as fireworks start. Allison’s phone BUZZES. She checks it.

Oh my God.

ALLISON (CONT'D)

Allison grabs Reginald and pulls him into the kitchen.

REGINALD Is it your sister? I don’t wanna talk to her again can we just ignoreAllison shoves the phone in his face.

ALLISON It’s Sheila. The case worker.

REGINALD The one that tried to steal our car? I thought she was fired.

ALLISON Apparently pay is awful and no one else wants to do it.

Allison accepts the call and puts it on speaker.

Hello?

ALLISON (CONT'D)

SHEILA Hey, Allison, There’s a 16-yearold girl whose uncle- dad just died. Are you interested?

ALLISON I thought we’d only take children under five. That’s what we requested. (off Reginald’s look) What?

REGINALD (To Sheila) We’ll take her.

SHEILA We’ll be there around midnight.

17.

Sheila hangs up. Allison is PISSED. REGINALD (off her look) You were going to turn her away?

ALLISON It’s not what we requested!

REGINALD She’s an orphan, Ally, not a piece of furniture. Jesus.

Allison gives him a death stare.

REGINALD (CONT'D) It’s one night, Al. INT. SHEILA’S CAR - NIGHT Tobie sits in the backseat. The passenger door is open.

Sheila aggressively shoves Tobie’s stuff into TRASH BAGS. Tobie watches her.

LITTLE GIRL (O.S.) Sheila’s a little bitch.

Tobie whips her head around and sees- herself.

Her 8 YEAR OLD SELF. The same Young Tobie we saw in the Flashbacks with Mia and August. YOUNG TOBIE aka TJ is standing outside the open passenger door.

TJ Can I sit with you?

She’s different- more relaxed than the girl from the flashbacks. Less angry- for now. Tobie looks around. Is anyone else seeing this? What the FUCK? TJ (CONT'D) (duh) It’s me, TJ. TJ sits next to Tobie.

TJ (CONT'D) You used to love when people called you that. Especially Daddy.

TJ tries to hold Tobie’s hand. Tobie snatches it away. She notices a BLOODY BANDAGE ON TJ’S TEMPLE. The same spot where her dad’s gunshot wound was.

18.

TJ (CONT'D) I had an accident. It’s okay, I’m better now.

TJ flashes a sinister smile. Sheila shuts the passenger door and gets into the drivers seat. TJ GRABS Tobie’s hand. She makes a “SHHH - Quiet” motion.

INT. SHEILA'S CAR - BROOKLYN BRIDGE - MOVING - NIGHT TJ has a death grip on Tobie’s hand. Sheila watches Tobie from the rearview. She only sees Tobie, not TJ. SHEILA I've met the Matthews a couple times. Older couple, LOTS of money.

The mom’s family owns the most expensive private school in the world or something. So you lucked out.

TJ makes a face.

SHEILA (CONT'D) But don’t steal from them? Okay?

They have cameras on all the exteriors. But they’re fine for rich snobs, very laid back.

INT. THE MATTHEWS HOUSE - BACONY - NIGHT Allison frantically grabs wine glasses. Reginald stands behind her with a trash bag awaiting instruction.

ALLISON Oh my God, can you do something?!

Sorry.

REGINALD

He follows her back into the house. Which is now sparkling clean. Allison goes to dump the wine glasses in the sinkRING! The doorbell. Reginald walks towards the doorALLISON No, I'll get it!

Reginald stuffs the trash bag in the nearest closet. He follows behind her. Allison tries to open the door, then remembers the wine glasses in her hands.

19.

ALLISON (CONT'D) Take these.

Reginald grabs them, but fumbles. CRASH! The glasses SHATTER, SPILLING WINE all over the floor. The wine looks like a pool of blood.

Oh my God-

ALLISON (CONT'D)

REGINALD You're making me nervous!

Allison opens the door.

Hi again.

SHEILA

Allison frowns. Sheila notices the wine on the floor.

It’s wine.

REGINALD

SHEILA Can we come in?

Allison sees Tobie standing behind Sheila, holding her trash bags. Something switches in Allison. There’s finally a child in her home. She’s wanted this for so long.

ALLISON Of course, I'm so sorry about that.

INT. MATTHEWS HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER Allison leads Tobie to a bedroom at the end of the hall. It looks like it’s been ripped from a William Sonoma catalogue.

ALLISON Can I get you anything to drink?

Water, juice...

Tobie freezes. TJ is lounging on the bed. Only Tobie can see her.

ALLISON (CONT'D) I’m so sorry about your father, OctoberTobie.

TOBIE

20.

ALLISON Right. Tobie. Sorry. We’re in the bedroom on the second floor if you need us at all tonight. Or we can stay up with you.

TJ shakes her head “no” at Tobie.

TOBIE (To Allison) It’s fine.

ALLISON Ok, well If you change your mind about dinner there’s an iPad on the nightstand with all the food delivery apps. Our card is on there. Order anything you like and the doorman will bringTOBIE (Go away) I want to sleep.

ALLISON Okay, well, goodn...I mean, let us know if you need anything.

Allison leaves.

TJ I thought she would never leave.

TJ sinks further into the bed.

TJ (CONT'D) This is so much better than Dad’s house.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - HALLWAY - MORNING The next morning. Tobie emerges from her bedroom. Her eyes sweep the empty hall.

She hears FOOTSTEPS. She slips into the nearest room, a: INT. THEATER - MATTHEWS' PENTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS Tobie sinks into one of the recliners. She presses a button.

The sound system BLARES:

21.

“SHOOTING IN QUEENS LAST NIGHT LEAVES FIVE DEAD, FOURTEEN INJURED...”

Tobie tries to turn it off, accidentally turns the TV on and switches the channel to E! News.

A red carpet picture of EMMA LAVELLE, 17, a glamorous young woman we’ll come to know, graces the screen. Tobie watches, enraptured. Emma is classically beautiful and effortlessly cool.

E! NEWS HOST Emma Lavelle, 17 year old superstar, has gone viral for her latest fling with 27 year old actor Christian Curtis.

Pictures of the two stars walking the streets of Beverly Hills flash across the screen. They’re literally just walking.

E! NEWS HOST (CONT'D) Is this even legal?! More when we come back.

The segment breaks for commercial. A woman SCREAMS. Tobie whips her head around to find a HOUSEKEEPER, 50s.

HOUSEKEEPER Who are you?

TOBIE Who are you?

HOUSEKEEPER I work for Mrs. Matthews.

Tobie notices the bucket of cleaning supplies in the woman’s hand.

A GEICO commercial blares from the surround sound speakers.

TOBIE I don’t know how to turn it off.

SUDDENLY everything turns off. Tobie whips around to see Allison holding a REMOTE. ALLISON (To housekeeper) Katie this is our foster daughter, Tobie. She’ll be staying with us for the next couple of weeks.

22.

TOBIE Only one night. My dad’s friend is coming to get me today.

The housekeeper, Katie, leaves off of Allison’s look. Allison sits in the recliner next to Tobie’s.

TOBIE (CONT'D) But they saidALLISON They called this morning. His background check wasn’t clean. He can’t take you.

TOBIE But it’s fine he’s not a bad person he’s always been niceI’m sure-

ALLISON

TOBIE Don’t cut me off.

Allison recoils a bit. She wasn’t expecting that.

ALLISON I’m sorry. I know this is awful.

TOBIE No one else said they could get me?

ALLISON Your father didn’t have a lot of contacts. They haven’t heard back from everyone though.

Tobie’s mind races. What the fuck is happening to her life right now.

ALLISON (CONT'D) You’ll stay with us until someone comes forward or...or the state gets a long term plan in place for you. Probably just a couple weeks.

Is that okay?

Tobie says nothing.

ALLISON (CONT'D) You must be hungry. Regina prepared an incredible spread-

23.

TOBIE Who the fuck is Regina?

ALLISON Our chef and we don’t allow cursingTOBIE Can you guys do anything yourself?

Or is there someone who wipes your ass for you too?

Tobie gets up and storms back into her room.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - TOBIE’S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER Tobie locks the door and climbs into the bed. She SOBS into her pillow. TJ gives her a sad look- a small glimmer of empathy.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - KITCHEN Reginald sits at the vast marble island eating from truly incredible spread of every breakfast food you can imagine.

Allison walks in crying.

REGINALD How is she...what’s wrong?

Reginald stands to hold Allison in his arms.

REGINALD (CONT'D) What happened?

ALLISON (Sobbing) I don’t think I can do this.

REGINALD Honey this is what we’ve been waiting for.

ALLISON We were waiting to raise a child.

She’s sixteen. And she clearly doesn’t want to be here.

Her dad-

REGINALD

24.

ALLISON We’re gonna house and feed her until she turns 18 and then we’ll never see her again. (beat) She doesn’t like me at all.

REGINALD I think you’re making this more about yourself thanALLISON I just want to be somebody’s mom.

REGINALD I know. I know I’m sorry . Listen she’ll stay for a couple weeks and then she’ll get moved. We’ll be more firm about the age requirement next time but let’s try...try to give her some stability until the state figures this out. You know better than anyone what she’s feeling right now. She needs us.

Allison nods and cries into his shoulder.

EXT. CEMETARY - DAVID’S FUNERAL - DAY Post funeral. Allison and Reginald walk Tobie to the car. A retired GENERAL, 70s, approaches Tobie.

October...

GENERAL

Tobie turns. A flicker of recognition.

GENERAL (CONT'D) October, my name is Henry. I’m an old friend of your father. I’m sorry for your loss.

HENRY May I have a word?

Henry once-overs the Matthews.

HENRY (CONT'D) In private.

He gets Tobie private.

25.

HENRY (CONT'D) Your father’s death wasn’t an accident. But you already know that, don’t you?

(Beat) My father passed when I was twenty.

I never expected the way his sins would follow me.

Henry slips Tobie a NOTE. She pockets it.

HENRY (CONT'D) He had enemies but he had friends too. If you find yourself in trouble, call us.

INT. APT BUILDING - LOBBY - MANHATTAN - CONTINUOUS Allison, Reg and Tobie enter the lobby. Sheila and TWO POLICE OFFICERS are waiting for them.

ALLISON Sheila, hi. Did we have a visit scheduled for today?

OFFICER #1 We need to speak with October.

REGINALD You’ve caught us at a bad time, can it wait?

OFFICER #2 Unfortunately it can’t.

REGINALD Are you aware of who you’re speaking to? Reginald Matthews.

Former Chief of the NYPD. I gave your boss his job.

OFFICER #1 I apologize sir. This is an extremely urgent matter.

SHEILA It’s about your father, October.

They’ve identified a potential suspectTOBIE Who did it?

26.

Your mom.

OFFICER #2

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS ALLISON There must be some mistake.

TOBIE My mom died in active duty. Eleven years ago.

OFFICER #1 Your mother went by the name Cynthia Owens, maiden name Luby, correct?

Yeah.

TOBIE

OFFICER #1 She went by other names too.

Officer #1 hands Tobie photocopies of MULTIPLE DRIVERS LICENSES, PASSPORTS, etc. from the same woman pictured, but under different names, with different hairstyles, makeup, clothing.

OFFICER #2 We found DNA at the crime scene that led us to a woman named Elizabeth Falcigno.

Officer #2 points out a more recent license.

OFFICER #2 (CONT'D) The women your mother pretended to be, none of them had real backgrounds or family history. All except for Cynthia Luby. Cynthia left an impressive trail: jobs, addresses, a husband, a child.

Medical records with DNA samples.

Did you know your mother was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis?

Alright-

ALLISON

OFFICER #2 And then, out of nowhere, disappears.

27.

Officer #1 points out a photocopy of a passport for Mary Philhower.

OFFICER #1 Two weeks later, Mary Philhower from Texas kills two Department of Defense officials.

OFFICER #2 The cycle repeats, she uses aliases to commit various crimes, and never gets caught. Until she murdered your father. (then) Your mother left so much DNA, it’s almost insulting. She wanted us to find her out. But we can’t track her down. And no new aliases have popped up.

OFFICER #1 Is there anything else you can tell us about the night your father died?

TOBIE I don’t remember.

OFFICER #2 You must remember finding himTobie blanches.

REGINALD Okay, we’re done here.

INT. TOBIE'S ROOM - DAY - MINUTES LATER Tobie shuts the door and locks it. TJ is sitting on the bed looking through Tobie’s SKETCHBOOK. She shows Tobie a GRAPHIC, EXAGGERATED SKETCH of a body covered in blood.

TJ This is dark, even for you. (off Tobie’s look) Hey, what’s wrong?

Tobie sinks down onto the floor.

TJ (CONT'D) Good. Let it out.

TJ caresses her face. Tobie snatches her hand away.

28.

TJ (CONT'D) Oh, we don’t want to do that.

TOBIE I’m going crazy.

TJ Is it my turn to say something obvious now?

TOBIE What are you?

TJ I’m the voice in the back of your head. The quiet one you don’t listen to. I’m not so quiet now, am I? (beat) Remember in second grade when Mia made fun of Dad’s drunk voice, and something made you want smack her, so you did? Or more recently, when Jesse Brooks shoved his tongue down your throat and something told you to hurt him, but you didn’t, and then he hurt you? (bitterly) That something was me.

TJ gets up and sits on the edge of the bed. Tobie looks up at her.

TJ (CONT'D) We used to be the same. We did and said whatever we wanted. We didn’t care what anyone thought. But something happened. People said you were too loud, too aggressive, too opinionated. Everything a little girl shouldn’t be. And as you grew, you started to believe them. You made me smaller and smaller so people would like you. And I let you. And look where it got us. (then) What I’m trying to say is, it’s all your fault. But it’s okay!

Everything’s okay now that I’m in charge.

TJ jumps off the bed and towers over Tobie.

29.

TJ (CONT'D) We’re gonna find Mom. And we’re gonna kill her.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - HALLWAY Allison walks past Tobie’s room and hears her muffled sobs.

Tobie?

ALLISON

Allison knocks. No response. She cracks open the door.

ALLISON (CONT'D) Can I come in?

Tobie sniffles. Allison sits on the edge of Tobie’s bed and rubs her back until she falls asleep.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - FOYER Sheila collects her things.

SHEILA (casually) So, obviously Mom is a no-go.

October will be in the system for a while. It would be best for her to have a long term foster.

ALLISON You want us to keep her?

SHEILA (O.S.) Until we get a permanency plan in place. Then we can start looking for a group home.

REGINALD What about a family?

SHEILA (O.S.) Adoptive families want babies, not teenagers. My guess is she’ll age out of the system.

ALLISON She can stay with us until you find an adoptive family. However long it takes.

30.

Allison shows her out.

ALLISON (CONT'D) Have a nice day.

Allison shuts the door in Sheila’s face. Bitch. Reginald locks the door.

ALLISON (CONT'D) (Off his look) What?

REGINALD You’re okay with all this?

ALLISON Like you said. She needs us. (beat) Do you think we’re in danger?

REGINALD I don’t know. I’m gonna head into the office, get some intel on the mother.

INT. THEATER - MATTHEWS' PENTHOUSE - DAY Tobie watching TV. Allison enters carrying massive SHOPPING BAGS. Tobie?

ALLISON

Tobie ignores her. Allison turns the TV off. Tobie doesn’t say anything. Allison places the bags on the couch.

ALLISON (CONT'D) A wardrobe upgrade. We thought, with school coming up...

School?

TOBIE

ALLISON You could use some new pieces.

Allison pulls high-end jackets, shirts, dresses, etc. out of the bags. Tobie runs her hand over a pink tweed skirt.

TOBIE Mia would love this.

31.

Who?

ALLISON

TOBIE My friend from California. (realizing) I could live with her.

Allison drops her wallet.

ALLISON They haven’t come forward for you.

TOBIE Because they don’t know. How could they? I can’t call them, my phone broke.

ALLISON We are going to get you a phone.

ALLISON (CONT'D) Everyone close with your father was notified. No one has come forward for you.

Yet.

TOBIE

ALLISON Its been two weeks. (hesitant) The courts are granting Reginald and I temporary custody. You’ll be with us untilTOBIE Until when?

ALLISON Until they find an adoptive family for you.

TOBIE How come you didn’t have your own kids?

I...

ALLISON

TOBIE I need money.

Tobie stalks out of the theater.

32.

TOBIE (CONT'D) (Calling back) And I need a phone. A real one- not a flip phone.

INT. CORNER OFFICE - NYPD HEADQUARTERS - MORNING Reginald sits in front of his desk looking at something called INTERPOL. A KNOCK. Reginald, confused, opens the door to: Tobie.

REGINALD (WTF) Did Allison bring you here?

No.

TOBIE

REGINALD You’re supposed to be at therapy.

TOBIE I didn’t want to go.

REGINALD You have to go. It’s mandated.

Does Allison know you’re here?

Tobie doesn’t answer. Reginald takes out his phone.

TOBIE You’re looking for my mom, right? I want to help. (then) Please.

Reginald wants to be a fun dad.

REGINALD You can play hookey for one day.

Tobie smiles. It makes his whole life.

REGINALD (CONT'D) But I’m calling Allison to let her know where you are. We’re you’re [parents]...we need to keep you safe.

INT. CORNER OFFICE - NYPD HEADQUARTERS Tobie and Reginald sit in front of the computer.

33.

REGINALD This is the INTERPOL system. It uses facial recognition to detect the same face from millions of photos. If your mom was in the paper as a kid, anything like that, if it’s digitized, we’ll find it.

TOBIE We could figure out her real name.

Reginald presses a button and thousands of images of Tobie’s mom come up.

TOBIE (CONT'D) Wait. That picture.

Reginald blows up a photo of THREE TEENAGE GIRLS. The girl in the middle is Tobie’s mom.

TOBIE (CONT'D) Who are the other girls? I can call one and ask what Mom’s name was.

I’m sure they’d remember.

REGINALD She’s dead.

What?

TOBIE

REGINALD This picture was pulled from a digitized obituary. The girl on the right, Eleanor, died a couple months after the photo was taken. A seizure.

TOBIE Well what about the other one?

REGINALD I’m checking. (beat, typing) Kalani Briggs. Also dead. Car crash. She died the same week Eleanor did.

TOBIE Maybe the deaths are connected.

Maybe they mean something.

34.

REGINALD Eleanor had epilepsy. It’s a terrible coincidence.

TOBIE What’s on my Mom’s neck? Zoom in.

Reginald zooms in on a silver chain.

REGINALD Looks like a locket. Does it mean anything to you?

No.

TOBIE

TOBIE (CONT'D) The obituaries. Do they mention my mom’s name? Under the picture or something.

REGINALD (reading) Kalani with Eleanor and a friend.

Tobie slumps in her chair.

REGINALD (CONT'D) Whoever your mom is, she knows what she’s doing.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - TOBIE'S ROOM There’s a BRAND NEW iPHONE on Tobie’s pillow. She’s to exhausted to process this. She moves it and tears open a bottle of Melatonin gummies. Tobie pops one and lays her head on the pillow. TJ climbs onto the bed and curls up next to Tobie.

I’m sorry.

For what?

TJ TOBIE

TJ I’m sorry you’re so sad.

TOBIE No you’re not.

Tobie turns over and falls asleep.

35.

INT. DELTA TRAIN - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT Tobie enters the Delta train. August is sipping hot chocolate at an empty table.

Hey.

TOBIE

AUGUST I haven’t seen you in weeks.

August fakes surprise. He knew she would dream tonight.

TOBIE My dad died.

I’m sorry.

AUGUST

TOBIE (realizing) You already knew.

AUGUST I looked you up online.

TOBIE We promised never to do thatAUGUST This is the longest you’ve gone without dreaming. I was worried you were dead. But then I saw your dad...I’m sorry, Tobie.

TOBIE You promised me.

August is hiding something, and Tobie can tell.

I’m sorry.

AUGUST

TOBIE You keep saying that.

AUGUST I’m here for you. I know what it’s likeTOBIE You’re a widow, not an orphan. At least you still have family.

36.

AUGUST Well I’m here. And I’m sorry.

Tobie gets up and heads for the front of the train car. The door swings open under Tobie’s control.

AUGUST (CONT'D) Hey! You can’t justToo late. Tobie’s jumped off of the speeding train. August prepares to jumpLITTLE GIRL (O.S.) Let her go.

Fuck. In the far corner of the train car, TJ’s big blue eyes peek out from under a BASEBALL CAP. She takes in the group of sleeping passengers around her.

TJ These people, they dream, wake up, and don’t question a thing.

TJ places the baseball cap on the head of the SLEEPING MAN she stole it from. He’s drooling.

Fools.

TJ (CONT'D)

TJ turns her attention back to August.

TJ (CONT'D) I missed you.

AUGUST I don’t know you.

TJ You do. We’re friends.

AUGUST (re: Tobie) I’m friends with her.

TJ I AM HER! (Regaining composure) I am every dark thought and bad intention she’s ever had. There are all kinds of words people throw around for it, inner child, inner demon. The devil on her shoulder-

37.

AUGUST Where’s the angel?

TJ I killed her.

TJ laughs. We can’t tell if she’s joking or serious.

TJ (CONT'D) I’m the part of Tobie she tried to hide, but I was always there. And now, I’m everywhere. I’m in her head, (re: the sleeping passengers) I’m in theirs. (beat) I’m in yours. I didn’t know you were in so much pain. (beat) Annie. Every dream you have is about her.

TJ walks towards him. August steps back, trips. He scrambles to get up.

TJ (CONT'D) I figured, its been seven years [you should be over it]... I should’ve realized. I’m sorry.

AUGUST Tobie ran off.

TJ She’s trying to find Mom. AUGUST Your mom? She’s deadTOBIE Surprise! She’s been alive this whole time. Turns out the bitch didn’t get blown up, she just abandoned me.

AUGUST What are you going to do?

TJ We are going to help Tobie remember all the bad things she’s forgotten.

Then she’ll be angry enough to kill Mom. I want her dead. And I want...

38.

A SLEEPING WOMAN startles in her sleep. TJ smirks.

AUGUST (re: sleeping passengers) Them?

TJ Their dreams, Dream World itself. (off his look) Why shouldn’t I have it? I’m one of only two people who have an understanding of this world. I’m the only person who can manipulate it. Do you really think a universe with no higher power to answer to is smart? Safe? You’ve taken your place here, But they need more than just a caretaker, It’s time I take mine.

AUGUST If you can control people’s subconscious...you can influence every decision they make.

TJ turns her attention to a well groomed man, 60s, sleeping nearby.

TJ I wonder who the President is most afraid of.

We realize this man is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. TJ (CONT'D) My dad lost his mind in Afghanistan. Maybe the man who sent him there deserves to lose his.

AUGUST You want to control everything.

Dream World. The Waking World. All of it.

TJ We could do it together. Imagine having a real say in what happens to your country.

AUGUST What does your mother have to do with this?

39.

TJ She’s in my way. Tobie needs to find her and get rid of her. You could help me convince her.

August looks for an escape route.

TJ (CONT'D) If I control your dreams, I control you. (then) I’ll torture you. You’ll lose what little sanity you have left. You don’t have a choice. Help me.

Fuck off.

AUGUST

TJ Theoretically, If I could control you, Tobie, the President, and eventually the entire human race... well, I guess that makes me God. TJ (CONT'D) (Pointedly) But I’m just a scared little girl.

What do I know?

TJ jumps out of the same door Tobie jumped from.

EXT. DREAM WORLD - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER TJ rolls into tall grass. She sees a TOWN in the distance and starts towards it.

EXT. DREAM WORLD - THE MIDDLE - TOWN - NIGHT This is the same dystopian town from the teaser. It’s DESERTED. There are puddles everywhere. Tobie steps in a puddle. She stares at her reflection. Her reflection SMIRKS back.

Weird. But she is dreaming.

Tobie finds a row of houses. The smallest house’s front door is OPEN.

40.

INT. SMALL HOUSE - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER Tobie walks through the house. We hear a door SLAM. A baby CRY. Tobie swoops into a nearby bedroom. Hiding. A WOMAN starts to sing.

WOMAN (O.S.) Gotta shake, shake, shake my sillies out...And wiggle my waggles away.

The woman’s voice gets closer. Tobie’s gonna get caught.

TOBIE (To herself) Wake up. Wake up. Wake upTOBIE’S MOTHER, 30’s, enters the room with a BABY on her hip.

This baby has the SAME EYES and SAME HAIR as Tobie. This is BABY TOBIE. Mom?

TOBIE (CONT'D)

Tobie’s Mom stares blankly, we’re not sure if she can see Tobie.

TOBIE (CONT'D) I’m not gonna hurt you.

Mom walks past Tobie. She CAN’T SEE TOBIE. The Baby starts to cry. Mom continues the song. Tobie follows her. They go down the hallTOBIE’S MOTHER I gotta clap, clap, clap my crazies out...

And into a nursery. Tobie’s Mother stands in front of the crib and starts jumping. She looks fucking crazy, like she’s on drugs.

TOBIE’S MOTHER (CONT'D) I gotta jump, jump, jump my jiggles out. Jump, jump, jump my jiggles outFLASHBACK BABY TOBIE’S P.O.V Watching the locket bounce as her mother jumps. Baby reaches for it.

41.

END FLASHBACK TOBIE (realizing) It’s a memory.

TOBIE’S MOTHER And wiggle my waggles away.

The baby keeps crying.

Stop!

TOBIE’S MOTHER (CONT'D)

Baby quiets for a moment. Mother hands the locket to Baby and leaves the room, humming “Shake My Sillies Out.” The Baby puts the locket in her mouth. Tobie runs to grab it from her.

Tobie inspects the locket. The initials. S. M. are engraved into the silver.

We hear a door SLAM. Baby bursts into tears. Tobie drops the locket into the crib and scans the room for an escape.

There’s a WINDOW. She unlocks it and crawls through, gets outside where we see...

EXT. DREAM WORLD - TOWN - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER A giant puddle. The wind HOWLS. The baby’s SOBS GET LOUDER. TOBIE (To herself) Break the dream.

Tobie stomps on the puddle. Her watery reflection SHATTERS like it’s made of glass.

INT. WAKING WORLD - MATTHEW’S PENTHOUSE - TOBIE'S ROOM Tobie jolts awake. She grabs her sketchbook from the bedside table and draws furiously.

INT. NURSERY - MEMORY/DREAM TJ steps out from behind a closet door. Was she there the whole time? TJ takes in the scene. She approaches the crib, caresses the baby’s face and DISAPPEARS. We linger on Baby Tobie as she cries.

42.

INT. LOUIS PREP - HALLWAY - DAY The prep school that Allison’s family owns. It’s beautiful and expensive, like everything in Tobie’s new life. Marble carvings and colorful stained glass panels make it look almost like a church.

Tobie sits in a chair near the front office. She’s sketching in her journal, fully absorbed.

DREW TAYLOR, 16, Tobie’s eventual love interest, enters from the front office. He’s athletic, handsome and exhausted. His phone keeps BUZZING in his pocket but he’s ignoring it.

Tobie doesn’t notice him. Drew is taken aback- She’s pretty.

He watches her sketch.

DREW You’re an artist.

Yeah.

TOBIE

DREW You’re really good.

TOBIE (genuine) Thank you.

DREW I’m Drew. Junior Class President.

You’re October?

Tobie.

TOBIE

DREW Principal Matthews said you’re new to the cityTOBIE She’s a family friend. I’m staying while my dad’s deployed. I won’t be here long.

INT. LOUIS PREP - LIBRARY - LATER Drew shows Tobie the library.

Tobie sees TJ reading a book in the corner of the library. TJ makes eye contact, then keeps reading.

43.

You good?

Yeah.

DREW TOBIE

DREW C'mon. There's something you should see.

INT. SCHOOL - ART ROOM - DAY Drew takes out a KEY PASS and unlocks the doors. They SWING OPEN to reveal THE COOLEST ART STUDIO EVER. It's a huge loft-style room.There's canvases of every size, paintbrushes, pencils, 3-D printers.

TOBIE Am I dreaming?

We can’t tell if she’s joking or serious. Drew laughs.

DREW Don’t ask me.

Drew takes a miniature HOURGLASS out of his pocket and discretely places it on the table. He makes sure the sand runs out, then pockets it.

EXT. LOUIS PREP - DAY Tobie and Drew stand in the doorway of the school.

DREW I can give you my number and you can text me if you have any questions. About anything.

TOBIE I don’t have a pen.

DREW I can put it in your phone.

Right.

TOBIE

44.

INT. CAR - PARKED - MANHATTAN Tobie enters and sits in the passenger seat. Allison was waiting for her.

ALLISON What did you think?

Tobie shrugs. Allison puts the car in drive and backs out.

ALLISON (CONT'D) I was thinking we could go to Target. Get some stuff for your room- throw pillows, decor, so it feels like your own space.

TOBIE Can we go to Apple Art Supplies? In Brooklyn. My dad was gonna take me.

Sure.

ALLISON

Tobie cracks a smile.

INT. MATTHEWS PENTHOUSE - TOBIE’S ROOM Tobie enters, carring bags of canvases and paints. She locks the door and takes out her new iPhone. She unlocks it, figures out how to type a number in, and calls.

Mia?

TOBIE

MIA (O.S.) Tobie, oh my God. I’ve been calling and calling.

TOBIE I’m in foster care.

MIA (O.S.) I know. Someone called my mom.

Tobie. Your dad. I’m so sorryTOBIE Can you come get me?

MIA (O.S.) Are you in Brooklyn?

45.

TOBIE I’m in Manhattan. With a foster family.

INT. MIA’S ROOM - MORNING - CONTINUOUS MIA Tobie...they asked my parents. Dad said no. I’m so sorry. Mom might get deployed andTOBIE I want to go home, Mia. MIA I know. I love you. I’m gonna fly to New York and see you as soon asTobie hangs up on her.

EXT. NYC - GREENWICH VILLAGE - DAY Emma Lavelle steps out of a car, flanked by security guards.

Dozens of fans and paparazzi snap pictures of her. This girl is Taylor Swift famous.

She walks past them calmly and reaches her family’s luxurious brownstone.

The door swings open to reveal: TYLER, 17, a sweet football player on scholarship. Emma’s childhood best friend. He’s secretly in love with her.

SOUZAN, 16, Emma’s new best friend. A tech wiz, radical thinker and heir to an international fortune.

And Drew, 16, the boy who gave Tobie the school tour.

INT. EMMA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY A hand-painted banner hangs across the kitchen cabinets.

“WELCOME HOME EMMA.” Emma and Souzan sit squished together on an island bar stool. Tyler is eating and Drew is closing the blinds so Emma’s stalker can’t see in.

SOUZAN So are you gonna see Garrett?

46.

EMMA Definitely. I’m just waiting for him to text me back.

DREW So what you mean is, he hasn’t texted you at all and you won’t see him today.

Emma’s boyfriend is a douchebag and everyone hates him.

EMMA Can we talk about something other than my love life.

DREW I gave this new girl a tour. Her name is October.

Huh. Weird.

TYLER SOUZAN

EMMA Is she nice?

Drew smiles.

SOUZAN Oooh you like her.

DREW No I don’t.

EMMA You definitely do.

SOUZAN (To Emma) You should invite her to Labor Day. EMMA Definitely.

DREW I don’t want her to think I’m some...asshole one percenter.

TYLER But you are.

47.

EMMA C’mon, she’ll love the Hamptons...biggest party of the season.

SOUZAN A weekend of debauchery...you can throw up in her lap.

Shut up.

DREW

EMMA (Sincere) It’ll be very romantic.

TYLER Drew has a point. It might be too much for her. If she’s not used to being around...

SOUZAN Asshole one percenters?

TYLER Yeah. Or she’ll realize you’re an ATM, and screw you over.

EMMA Oh stop. Invite her Drew. Show her we’re not all a-holes.

INT. REGINALD’S OFFICE - MATTHEW’S PENTHOUSE - DAY Reginald sits typing away on his computer. Tobie enters.

REGINALD Hey! You got my text.

TOBIE (Re: new phone) I’m getting the hang of it now.

Reginald takes out a massive stack of files.

REGINALD I found this. Files on potential identities matching the initials you gave.

(Beat) You holding up okay?

TOBIE Yeah I’m good.

48.

REGINALD How did you like the school?

TOBIE Hopefully you aren’t spending a lot of money for me to go.

REGINALD Don’t worry about that.

TOBIE It won’t be for long, just until Mia’s parents change their mind.

REGINALD In the meantime, Ally and I have hired personal security. Until we can get a better understanding of your mother’s motives.

I’m sorry.

TOBIE

REGINALD Kiddo you have nothing to be sorry about. I’m gonna check on the pot roast.

Reginald leaves. Tobie looks through the files. Her mom could be any or none of these women.

Reginald is trying to distract her. Tobie hacks in to INTERPOL. She finds TWO PINNED FILES. Selena Martin and Sarah Morales, age 42, look almost identical to the cheerleader in the photo. Both went missing at 16.

TJ Mom could be either one of them.

Tobie STARTLES. TJ is standing right behind Tobie.

TJ (CONT'D) Don’t look at me. I don’t know.

TOBIE I can’t remember my own mother’s name.

TJ It’s not your fault. She lied to everyone.

(MORE)

49.

TJ (CONT'D) (beat) Mom must have slipped up once.

TOBIE I don’t remember.

TJ Well, the last time you dreamed you trigged a memory. Try it again.

TOBIE How do you know that?

TJ (Duh) I’m your subconscious. (realizing) You don’t trust me.

TOBIE No. But you’re not wrong.

TJ Figure out her identity. Then we can get rid of her.

TOBIE I’m not gonna kill my Mom. I’m gonna find her and...maybe she’ll take me back.

TJ She killed Dad. Or did you forget? (beat) There are a lot of things you’ve forgotten.

EXT. DELTA TRAIN - CABOOSE - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT Tobie stands behind the railing of the caboose. August follows her out.

AUGUST What are you doing out here?

TOBIE Looking for a memory.

Of what?

AUGUST

TOBIE I’ll know it when I see it.

50.

TOBIE (CONT'D) What is that?

A building stands in the middle of nowhere, between the town and the End. AUGUST A building?

TOBIE It looks like my new school.

AUGUST One of the students must be dreaming.

TOBIE I’m gonna check it out.

AUGUST And risk getting caught? What if you break the dream of a classmate?

TOBIE I’m not gonna get caught. When I broke Mia’s dream you made it out to be a huge deal and everything was fine.

AUGUST Things are different now. This world is changing.

How?

TOBIE

AUGUST You know. A part of you knows.

Tobie jumps off the train. August goes back inside: INT. DELTA TRAIN - CABOOSE - NIGHT August hears a small child GIGGLE. A LITTLE BOY, 7, comes running down the aisle and into August’s arms.

AUGUST (Utterly confused) Elliot?

Daddy!

ELLIOT

51.

AUGUST Impossible.

August grabs Elliot by his shoulders.

AUGUST (CONT'D) (desperately) Look at me. Did somebody wake you up? When you were sleeping on the train did somebody wake you?

Elliot is staring at something behind August.

A WOMAN. 30’s. She’s smiling warmly. This is ANNIE, August’s dead wife.

Mama!

ELLIOT

Elliot runs into his mother’s arms.

AUGUST She’s not [real]- Mama’s dead.

You’re dream [ing]They are on the Delta train, in the in-between state, not Dream World.

AUGUST (CONT'D) How are you dreaming on the train?

Elliot still has his back turned to August, hugging his mom.

ELLIOT Daddy? I don’t feel well.

Annie DISAPPEARS. Elliot’s shoulders slump. Something is very wrong.

Buddy?

AUGUST

Elliot turns around. He’s PALE, SKINNY, DISHEVELED. His stomach is DISTENDED. Everywhere else, he’s lost so much weight he looks skeletal.

ELLIOT I’m sick. Like Mama.

Elliot starts SCREAMING IN PAIN. AUGUST ELLIOT YOU’RE DREAMING. ELLIOT WAKE UP! WAKE UP!!!

52.

Elliot starts speaking in a WOMAN’S VOICE, ANNIE’S VOICE. ELLIOT (Annie V.O.) August, August it hurts! It hurts!

AUGUST. PLEASE. MAKE IT STOP. August shakes Elliot in an attempt to wake him up.

ELLIOT (CONT'D) AUGUST I’M BEGGING YOU JUST KILL ME. August COLLAPSES onto the floor, shaking. Elliot DISAPPEARS. AUGUST (Sobbing) Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.

TJ walks over to Andrew. She was sitting in a booth the WHOLE TIME. TJ You’re so dramatic. It wan’t that bad.

August looks up and realizes Elliot is gone.

AUGUST WHERE’S ELLIOT? WHERE IS HE?!

TJ He’s asleep in car five like he has been this whole time.

AUGUST He’s asleep?

TJ I was fucking with your head August. C’mon it’s not as cool when I have to explain it.

AUGUST You didn’t hurt him?

No.

TJ

(beat) But I can. Maybe now you see how serious I am.

53.

AUGUST Please don’t hurt him. I’ll do anything you want. Anything.

Please.

TJ Good. Because next time, I won’t be so forgiving.

INT. LARGE CLASSROOM - LOUIS PREP - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT Tobie sits in the back, trying to figure out which student is the Dreamer. She notices HERSELF, her 16 year old self, walk in.

Tobie realizes- Drew is the Dreamer. He’s the only student who knows Tobie. An UGLY TEACHER approaches Drew’s desk with his test results: D minus.

DREW This will pull me down to a B in the class. I’ve never had a B. UGLY Well, you should’ve studied harder.

Drew pulls out his miniature HOURGLASS and sets it down. The SAND inside continues running. The sand never runs out.

DREW I’d like to change my grade.

Excuse me?

UGLY TEACHER

DREW Actually, I’d like a new teacher.

UGLY TEACHER disappears and HOT TEACHER, a sexy woman, walks through the door. Drew is not only lucid, but he’s manipulating his dream. We see TJ’S face through a window.

EXT. LOUIS PREP - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT TJ and August watching.

TJ Oh fuck I did not account for this.

She turns to August.

54.

TJ (CONT'D) I thought I was the only one.

AUGUST You are. I’ve never seen anyone elseTJ We need to get him under control.

Now. INT. LARGE CLASSROOM - LOUIS PREP - DREAM WORLD - NIGHT The school walls shake. Tobie’s gonna get caught, but fuck itTOBIE Drew. Drew!

Drew turns around to look at her.

TOBIE (CONT'D) I know what you’re doing. How did August never find you?

What?

DREW

TOBIE You’re like me.

DREW This is a weird dream.

TOBIE You know you’re dreaming. And you can change the dream. I can too.

But lately I’ve been losing controlThe schools SHAKES HARDER. TOBIE (CONT'D) What are you doing?

DREW Nothing!

(Beat) How do I know you’re real? That this isn’t a a part of the dream?

TOBIE Text me after we wake up from this.

A piece of rubble CRASHES at their feet.

55.

DREW I lost control I don’t know what’s happeningTOBIE We should go.

They BOLT for the nearest exist as RUBBLE CRUMBLES AND FALLS. INT. DREAM WORLD - NIGHT Tobie and Drew walk along a long stretch of beach.

DREW So you’re looking for a memory that will tell you what your mom’s real name is?

Yeah.

TOBIE

TOBIE (CONT'D) What’s that?

Tobie notices a small BEACH TOWN in the distance.

DREW You tell me, we’re in your dream now.

EXT. MAIN STREET - BEACH TOWN - DREAM WORLD - DAY The town is deserted.

TOBIE We’re in Fort Bragg. I used to live here.

We hear a child GIGGLE. DREW You heard that, right?

They follow the sound to a: EXT. PLAYGROUND - DREAM WORLD - DAY 5 YEAR OLD TOBIE and her mom sit on the bench. A WOMAN, another mom, approaches them.

56.

WOMAN Selena! Hey! Is that really you?

Tobie’s Mom, SELENA, goes pale.

WOMAN (CONT'D) It’s Maya! From cheer. At Boone.

Selena picks 5-year-old Tobie and RUNS for a small COTTAGE. TOBIE This was the day my Mom disappeared.

Tobie walks towards the cottage, determined to remember more.

DREW Who is that?

Tobie turns to see TJ approaching them.

TOBIE A manifestation of my subconscious.

Just ignore her.

Ignore her? Oh fuckkkk that. TJ pulls a HANDGUN out of thin air and SHOOTS DREW. TJ (To Tobie) Gonna ignore me now?!

Tobie keeps moving towards the COTTAGE. TJ blocks her.

TJ (CONT'D) You’re not ready to remember that night.

Tobie tries to get around her. TJ points the GUN at Tobie.

TJ (CONT'D) As your subconscious, it’s my job to protect you from trauma. To help you forget. So you can move on.

TOBIE Yeah revenge killing Mom is a great way to move on.

TJ One day you’ll understand.

TJ SHOOTS TOBIE.

57.

INT. TOBIE'S ROOM - MATTHEW’S HOUSE - WAKING WORLD - NIGHT Tobie WAKES UP. Her phone PINGS. A text from Drew.

DREW (TEXT) I had a dream about you.

I know.

TOBIE (TEXT)

EXT. EAST HAMPTON - EMMA’S BEACH HOUSE - DUSK Establishing shot of a MASSIVE shingle-style beach estate.

Teens stream in to the house for Emma Lavelle’s Labor Day party.

INT. LIMO - MOVING - DUSK Tobie and Drew in a limo. Tobie is silent, stewing.

DREW Why are you mad? You broke into my dream.

The limo parks in front of Emma’s house. Tobie gets out.

TOBIE Thanks for the limo.

And SLAMS the door. Drew rushes after her. He grabs her wrist.

TOBIE (CONT'D) (Snapping) My whole life has fallen apart in the Waking World. And now, it’s falling apart in Dream World. I’m not the only one anymore. I thought I was the only one.

Tobie stalks off towards the house.

INT/EXT. EMMA'S BEACH HOUSE - DUSK MONTAGE To the song “Tongue Tied” by GROUPLOVE. - Kids popping expensive alcohol, doing drugs

58.

- Kids jumping off the deck into the pool, raving to live music - Someone arrives in a helicopter - Emma watching it all go down, like Gatsby.

END MONTAGE. EXT. DECK - EMMA’S BEACH HOUSE - NIGHT Drew introduces Tobie to his friends.

TOBIE (Stunned) You’re the girl from the TV. TYLER She has a name.

EMMA You’re October, right? You’re so pretty!

Emma gives Tobie a hug.

EMMA (CONT'D) (Genuine) I’m really glad you could come!

TOBIE (Still stunned) Thanks.

Emma’s boyfriend Garrett comes out of nowhere and grabs Emma.

GARRETT Babe! There’s paps on the beach!

(Drunk) Let’s give ‘em something to photograph.

Garrett forcefully makes out with her. When he finally lets go of her, he laughs. Emma, silent, walks back inside. Tyler and Souzan follow so they don’t kill Garrett. Garrett immediately starts chatting up Tobie. Drew INTERRUPTS. DREW (To Tobie) I have an idea.

59.

INT. HALLWAY - MATTHEWS’ HAMPTONS HOME - DUSK Tobie and Drew hear Allison on a Zoom call. She’s distracted.

Now’s their chance. Drew and Tobie sneak into: INT. REGINALDS OFFICE - MATTHEWS HAMPTONS HOME They lock themselves in. Tobie opens Reginald’s computer hacks into the INTERPOL system again.

DREW Where’d you learn that?

My dad.

TOBIE

Pictures fill the screen. She’s in.

TOBIE (CONT'D) Selena Marx. That’s her.

Drew takes over. Tobie looks through the office.

DREW Her file is the only one now. Mr. Matthews knew and he didn’t tell you. (beat) She killed her mom, Tobie.

TOBIE What? Grandma disappeared last summer, she went to the store, they think she got lost but she’s notDREW Your grandma’s dead.

TOBIE Grandma’s only sixty five.

DREW She was murdered. Six months ago.

By your mom.

Drew turns the monitor around so Tobie can see: A picture of TOBIE’S MOTHER disguised a SOMEONE ELSE, another ALIAS. DREW (CONT'D) She killed your aunts too. Three months ago.

60.

TOBIE What about my Grandpa? My uncle?

Drew checks on the computer.

DREW I don’t see anything on your Grandpa. Or your uncle.

TOBIE So...she’s killed every woman in her family except for...

DREW Except for you.

Why?

TOBIE

TJ Save the best for last.

Tobie STARTLES. TJ is standing in the far corner. ONLY TOBIE CAN SEE HER. DREW You’re her daughter, there’s no way she wouldTJ (to Tobie) She would.

Horror on Tobie’s face as the realization hitsTOBIE (To TJ) You were right. I have to kill her...before she kills me.

TJ smiles.

END OF EPISODE.